Lille OSC vs Nantes preview - Girard wary of Nantes

Posted Saturday, September 13, 2014 by PA

Lille boss Rene Girard is wary of the threat posed by Nantes as his side look to maintain their unbeaten start to the Ligue 1 season on Sunday.

Les Dogues have collected eight points from three games and boast the meanest defence in the French top flight having only conceded once, but Nantes arrive at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in fine form themselves.

Michel Der Zakarian's side, who preserved their Ligue 1 status last year on their return from a four-year exile, sit four places and a point behind their hosts in seventh.

"Nantes have made b b a good start to the championship, they are strong, rigorous and hard to break down. This is a tough team," Girard said to the club's official website, www.losc.fr.

"They also have fewer internationals than us, therefore lost fewer players this week. So that should be taken into account"

Although they are rock solid at the back, goals have been hard to come by for Lille - who lost last season's top scorer Salomon Kalou to Hertha Berlin before the international break.

Girard's men have scored just four times this season, twice from open play, and that is something the former Montpellier boss will want to improve.

One way he might look to do that is to hand a debut to Swiss youngster Michael Frey, who moved to northern France from BSC Young Boys as Kalou's replacement.

The 19-year-old notched 19 goals for Young Boys after breaking into the team in 2012 and was linked with Liverpool before joining on deadline day.

Lille, who were beaten by Porto in the Champions League play-offs, begin their Europa League campaign against FC Krasnodar on Thursday so that may affect their team selection this weekend.

Girard also has concerns over Franck Beria and Marko Basa, who both have hamstring problems, while Ryan Mendes has an adductor injury.

The 60-year-old will be absent from the touchline himself on Sunday as he serves the first of a two-match ban from the dugout after being sent to the stands during the draw with Monaco.

For the visitors, Serge Gakpe will be hoping to start alongside Yacine Bammou, who signed a new contract this week, after nabbing the winner against Montpellier a fortnight ago.

Keeper Remy Riou is still out with the foot injury that has sidelined him since the summer and midfielder Vincent Bessat is also a doubt, but winger Johan Audel believes they are well capable of an upset.

"We do not doubt ourselves," he told the club's website, www.fcnantes.com. "The group is solid, sturdy and shows a good attitude and a good spirit. We will go there to and be positive. We play to win games."